Expand sub-menus

Nicholeen M Viall

Photo of NICHOLEEN VIALL

Nicholeen M Viall

  • 301.286.4054
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 671
  • Greenbelt , MD 20771
  • Employer: NASA

    • Research Interests

    Solar Coronal Heating

    Researching active regions and quiet Sun plasmas by developing new analyses of the multi-wavelength Solar Dynamics Observatory/ Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA) data. Use physics-based coronal flux tube models to understand coronal heating and for the interpretation of line-of-sight effects in coronal observations.

    Periodic solar wind density structures

    Investigating ambient solar wind structures and their source locations using the white light telescopes on Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory/ Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (STEREO/SECCHI).

    Positions/Employment

    3/2012 - Present

    Research Astrophysicist

    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenblet, MD, USA  
    2010 - 2012

    NASA Postdoctoral Fellow

    Solar Physics Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA  Investigation of coronal heating in active region loops using time series analysis, physics-based coronal loop models, and the multi-wavelength SDO/AIA data.
    2005 - 2009

    Graduate Research Assistant

    Department of Astronomy, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA Studied non-turbulent periodic density structures in the ambient solar wind, their affect on the Magnetosphere, focusing on the ULF wave response, and their possible source region and source mechanism. The main tools used were spectral analysis and time series analysis of Wind/Solar Wind Experiment data, Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory/ Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation white light images, and Geostationary Operational Environment Satellites magnetometer data.
    2004 - 2004

    Graduate Teaching Fellow

    Department of Astronomy, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA Responsible for teaching four Astronomy 202 lab sections per week; taught astronomy and space physics material complementary to main lectures; running laboratory experiments and discussion/office hours; grading homework assignments and lab reports. Attended bi-weekly class lectures and weekly teaching fellow class.

    Education

    Ph.D. in Astronomy, Boston University, Boston, MA, January, 2010
    "Periodic Solar Wind Density Structures"

    M.A. in Astronomy, Boston University, Boston, MA, May, 2007

    B.S. in Astronomy and Physics, Univrsity of Washington, Seattle, WA, June, 2004

    Professional Service

    American Geophysical Union (AGU)
        Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA), outstanding student paper awards committee co-chair and member of AGU SPA executive council, August 2011-Feb 2013
        Outstanding student paper awards judge, Fall AGU meeting, 2009-present
        Co-organizer and session chair of Fall AGU SPA session titled ‘Comparing Models of the Solar Magnetic Field With Data’, 2011
        Lead organizer and session chair of Fall AGU SPA session titled ‘Recent Advances in Solar Coronal Heating’, 2012

    International 'Coronal Loops' Workshop
        Steering Committee member, May 2012-present
        Science Organizing Committee, 2013-present

    Goddard Space Flight Center
        New and Developing Professionals Advisory Committee, May 2011-present
        Taught introduction to solar/astronomy observational techniques course at the Goddard Space Flight Center Educator’s Workshop, July 2012
        Solar and space physics presentation at the Glenn Dale Elementary School Career Day, May 2012
        Solar and space weather presentation as part of The Girl Scouts of America 100th anniversary celebration, ‘The Scientist is In’ event, July 2012
        Served on the GSFC Science Panel for Summer Interns, August 2012

    NSF Solar, Heliospheric, and INterplanetary Environment program (SHINE)
        SHINE student representative, 2008 and 2009.
        Co-GEM-SHINE student day leader (GEM-SHINE 2008 meeting)
        Served as a reviewer on the SHINE National Science Foundation research proposals panel review

    Other
        Working group leader at the ‘Tracing the Connections of Eruptive Events’ workshop, Fall, 2012


    Professional Societies

    Women of Aerospace, 2013 - Present
    American Astronomical Society (AAS), 2010 - Present
    American Geophysical Union, 2005 - Present

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Mason, E. I., S. K. Antiochos, and N. M. Viall. 2019. "Observations of Solar Coronal Rain in Null Point Topologies." The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 874 (2): L33 [10.3847/2041-8213/ab0c5d]

    Kepko, L., N. Viall, S. K. Antiochos, et al. S. T. Lepri, J. C. Kasper, and M. Weberg. 2016. "Implications of L1 observations for slow solar wind formation by solar reconnection." Geophysical Research Letters, 43 (9): 4089–4097 [10.1002/2016gl068607]

    Uritskiy, V. M., J. M. Davila, N. M. Viall-Kepko, and L. Ofman. 2013. "MEASURING TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT PROPAGATING DISTURBANCES IN CORONAL FAN LOOPS USING MULTIPLE SDO/AIA CHANNELS AND THE SURFING TRANSFORM TECHNIQUE." ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 778: [10.1088/0004-637X/778/1/26]

    Uritsky, V., J. M. Davila, N. Viall, and L. Ofman. 2013. "Slow mode waves and quasi-periodic upflows in the multi-temperature solar corona as seen by the SDO." AAS/Solar Physics Division Meeting, 44: #104.05-.

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., and J. A. Klimchuk. 2013. "Modeling the Diffuse Active Region Corona with Impulsive Nanoflare Heating." ApJ, 771 (115): [10.1088/0004-637X/771/2/115]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., and J. A. Klimchuk. 2012. "Evidence for Widespread Cooling in an Active Region Observed with the SDO Atmospheric Imaging Assembly." ApJ, 753 (35): [Full Text (Link)] [10.1088/0004-637X/753/1/35]

    Thompson, B., P. Demoulin, C. Mandrini, et al. M. Mays, L. Ofman, L. Van Driel-Gesztelyi, and N. Viall. 2011. "Pulsed Flows Along a Cusp Structure Observed with SDO/AIA." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2117-:

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., and J. A. Klimchuk. 2011. "Patterns of Nanoflare Storm Heating Exhibited by an Active Region Observed with Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly." The Astrophysical Journal, 738 (1): 24 [10.1088/0004-637X/738/1/24]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., H. E. Spence, A. Vourlidas, and R. Howard. 2010. "Examining Periodic Solar-Wind Density Structures Observed in the SECCHI Heliospheric Imagers." Solar Physics, 261 (175): [10.1007/s11207-010-9633-1]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., H. E. Spence, and J. Kasper. 2009. "Are periodic solar wind number density structures formed in the solar corona?" Geophysical Research Letters, 36 (23): L23102 [10.1029/2009GL041191]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., E. L. Kepko, and H. E. Spence. 2009. "Relative occurrence rates and connection of discrete frequency oscillations in the solar wind density and dayside magnetosphere." J. Geophys. Res., 114 (A01201): [10.1029/2008JA013334]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., E. L. Kepko, and H. E. Spence. 2008. "Inherent length-scales of periodic solar wind number density structures." J. Geophys. Res., 113 (A07101): [10.1029/2007JA012881]

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Mason, E. I., S. K. Antiochos, and N. M. Viall. 2019. "Observations of Solar Coronal Rain in Null Point Topologies." The Astrophysical Journal Letters 874 (2): L33 [10.3847/2041-8213/ab0c5d]

    Kepko, L., N. Viall, S. K. Antiochos, et al. S. T. Lepri, J. C. Kasper, and M. Weberg. 2016. "Implications of L1 observations for slow solar wind formation by solar reconnection." Geophysical Research Letters 43 (9): 4089–4097 [10.1002/2016gl068607]

    Uritskiy, V. M., J. M. Davila, N. M. Viall-Kepko, and L. Ofman. 2013. "MEASURING TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT PROPAGATING DISTURBANCES IN CORONAL FAN LOOPS USING MULTIPLE SDO/AIA CHANNELS AND THE SURFING TRANSFORM TECHNIQUE." ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL 778 [10.1088/0004-637X/778/1/26]

    Uritsky, V., J. M. Davila, N. Viall, and L. Ofman. 2013. "Slow mode waves and quasi-periodic upflows in the multi-temperature solar corona as seen by the SDO." AAS/Solar Physics Division Meeting 44 #104.05-

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., and J. A. Klimchuk. 2013. "Modeling the Diffuse Active Region Corona with Impulsive Nanoflare Heating." ApJ 771 (115): [10.1088/0004-637X/771/2/115]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., and J. A. Klimchuk. 2012. "Evidence for Widespread Cooling in an Active Region Observed with the SDO Atmospheric Imaging Assembly." ApJ 753 (35): [Full Text (Link)] [10.1088/0004-637X/753/1/35]

    Thompson, B., P. Demoulin, C. Mandrini, et al. M. Mays, L. Ofman, L. Van Driel-Gesztelyi, and N. Viall. 2011. "Pulsed Flows Along a Cusp Structure Observed with SDO/AIA." Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 2117-

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., and J. A. Klimchuk. 2011. "Patterns of Nanoflare Storm Heating Exhibited by an Active Region Observed with Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly." The Astrophysical Journal 738 (1): 24 [10.1088/0004-637X/738/1/24]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., H. E. Spence, A. Vourlidas, and R. Howard. 2010. "Examining Periodic Solar-Wind Density Structures Observed in the SECCHI Heliospheric Imagers." Solar Physics 261 (175): [10.1007/s11207-010-9633-1]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., H. E. Spence, and J. Kasper. 2009. "Are periodic solar wind number density structures formed in the solar corona?" Geophysical Research Letters 36 (23): L23102 [10.1029/2009GL041191]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., E. L. Kepko, and H. E. Spence. 2009. "Relative occurrence rates and connection of discrete frequency oscillations in the solar wind density and dayside magnetosphere." J. Geophys. Res. 114 (A01201): [10.1029/2008JA013334]

    Viall-Kepko, N. M., E. L. Kepko, and H. E. Spence. 2008. "Inherent length-scales of periodic solar wind number density structures." J. Geophys. Res. 113 (A07101): [10.1029/2007JA012881]

                                                                                                                                                                                            
    NASA Logo, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    • NASA Official:
    • Curator:
    • Last Updated: 09/20/2019